No. 1 Tampa Remains Undefeated as They Defeat Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The No. 1 ranked University of Tampa Spartans men's lacrosse continued their No.1 campaign with a win over Palm Beach Atlantic University.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No. 1 Tampa 14, Palm Beach Atlantic 11

Records: Tampa Spartans (9-0), Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish (4-4)

Location: Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus || West Palm Beach, FL

HOW IT HAPPENED:

FIRST QUARTER

The Spartans found themselves behind early in the quarter, with the Sailfish opening the scoring. However, the Sailfish lead did not last long with Kellen Hoke opening the scoring for the Spartans three minutes later. With a pair of late goals scored 30 seconds apart, the Spartans would head into the second quarter with the lead. The Spartans scored as follows:

9:25 Kellen Hoke, assisted by Owen Miller

05:54 - Luke McAnaney, Kellen Hoke 

05:24 Harry Kilkowski, assisted by Luke McAnaney

Score: 3-2 Tampa

SECOND QUARTER

The Spartans would carry their momentum from late in the first quarter to the beginning of the second. Luke McAnaney would score within one minute of the opening faceoff being taken. After his goal, the Spartans offense went on a roll scoring three unanswered goals. The Sailfish kept the Spartans on their toes, cutting into their three-goal lead late in the quarter. Harry Kilkowski's last minute goal gave the Spartans a five-goal cushion headed into the half. The Spartans scored as follows:

14:16 – Luke McAnaney, assisted by Charlie Bolesh

12:31 – Owen Miller, unassisted

11:38  - Colin White, assisted by Charlie Bolesh

04:05 – Ethan Paduch, assisted by Kellen Hoke

02:42 – Luke McAnaney, assisted by Ronan Sanchez

01:01 – Harry Kilkowski, unassisted

Score: 9-4 Tampa

THIRD QUARTER

The Spartans would keep their great offensive showing going as they scored four unanswered goals to open the second half. The Sailfish would then find the back of the net late in the quarter twice in a row, to challenge the Spartan lead. Owen Matukas scored with five seconds left in the third to back up the Spartans' lead and keep the Sailfish an arm's length away headed into the fourth. The Spartans scored as follows:

11:23 – Luke McAnaney, assisted by Colin White

08:16 – Colin White, unassisted

07:01 – Kellen Hoke, assisted by Harry Kilkowski

04:47 – Daniel Fitzpatrick, unassisted

00:05 – Owen Matukas, assisted by Harry Kilkowski

Score: 14-7 Tampa

FOURTH QUARTER

The fourth quarter would see the Spartans not finding the back of the net in the final 15 minutes. The Sailfish scored four goals but, their comeback efforts were too little too late. The decisive play of the Spartan offense early on would prove to be the deciding factor in the road victory.

Final: 14-11 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Four Spartans, McAnaney, White, Kilkowski, and Hoke would each score two or more goals
• Tampa would outshoot Palm Beach Atlantic 43-28
• White would record a game high 5 ground balls

UP NEXT: The Spartans return home on Saturday, April 2^nd to take on Rollins at 3:00 PM.